lib·er·ty / ˈlibərtē/ • n. (pl. -ties) 1. the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views: compulsory retirement would interfere with individual liberty. ∎  (usu. liberties) an instance of this; a right or privilege, esp. a statutory one: the Bill of Rights was intended to secure basic civil liberties. ∎  the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved: people who have lost property or liberty without due process. ∎  (Liberty) the personification of liberty as a female figure.2. the power or scope to act as one pleases: individuals should enjoy the liberty to pursue their own interests and preferences. ∎  Philos. a person's freedom from control by fate or necessity. ∎ inf. a presumptuous remark or action: how did he know what she was thinking?—it was a liberty! ∎  Naut. shore leave granted to a sailor.PHRASES: at liberty1. not imprisoned: he was at liberty for three months before he was recaptured. 2. allowed or entitled to do something: competent adults are generally at liberty to refuse medical treatment.take liberties1. behave in an unduly familiar manner toward a person: you've taken too many liberties with me. 2. treat something freely, without strict faithfulness to the facts or to an original: the scriptwriter has taken few liberties with the original narrative.take the liberty venture to do something without first asking permission: I have taken the liberty of submitting an idea to several of their research departments.THE RIGHT WORD freedom, independence, liberty, license, permission

The Fourth of July is the day on which Americans commemorate their nation's independence, a word that implies the ability to stand alone, without being sustained by anything else.

While independence is usually associated with countries or nations, freedom and liberty more often apply to people. But unlike freedom, which implies an absence of restraint or compulsion ( the freedom to speak openly), liberty implies the power to choose among alternatives rather than merely being unrestrained ( the liberty to select their own form of government). Freedom can also apply to many different types of oppressive influences ( freedom from interruption; freedom to leave the room at any time), while liberty often connotes deliverance or release ( he gave the slaves their liberty).

License may imply the liberty to disobey rules or regulations imposed on others, especially when there is an advantage to be gained in doing so ( poetic license). But more often it refers to an abuse of liberty or the power to do whatever one pleases ( a license to sell drugs).

Permission is an even broader term than license, suggesting the capacity to act without interference or censure, usually with some degree of approval or authority ( permission to be absent from his post).